A true Luciolinae fossil from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber provides new insights into the early evolution of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Abstract Fireflies (Lampyridae) represent the most diverse terrestrial group of organisms capable of bioluminescence. However, their evolution remains inadequately understood due to the scarcity of early fossils. In this study, we uncover a new fossil genus and species, Cretoluciola birmana gen. et sp. nov., derived from a high-quality piece of the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This new taxon is characterized by large eyes, filiform antennae, six abdominal ventrites and a bipartite light organ i